Pakistan protests Indian firing, says four civilians killed on their side

Pakistan Monday lodged “a strong protest” with the Indian government over “unprovoked firing” and alleged violation of the ceasefire by Indian security forces leading to the deaths of four civilians.

The ministry of foreign affairs in a statement said, “Pakistan strongly condemns the Indian security forces’ unprovoked firing, violating the ceasefire at the working boundary at Charwah sector today.”

It said the firing started at midnight and continued till Monday morning.

“The Indian violation, in complete disregard of the sacred occasion of Eid ul Adha” led to the deaths of four people and injuries to three others. Two children and a woman in village Dharmala and a 60-year-old man in Tulsipur were among the fatalities, while two civilians in Dharmala and a child in village Harpal were injured, it said.

“It is deeply saddening that Indian security forces’ act of aggression deprived a number of families from celebrating the auspicious Eid,” the statement said. The Pakistan government offered its condolences to the bereaved families and the victims.

It said that Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with India through diplomatic channels and “called for restraining its forces from constant violation of the ceasefire”.

“This was the sixth violation, occurring on daily basis since Oct 1. Indian Forces violated from Akhnur, Dawar, Gulmerg, Jammu, and lastly, from Charwah sectors,” the statement said.

India in turn has accused Pakistan Rangers of resorting to indiscriminate firing along the international border in Jammu district, killing five civilians and injuring 29 others.

Five civilians, including a 15-year-old girl and her 50-year-old father were killed in indiscriminate mortar shelling and automatic weapons firing from Pakistan in Arnia sub-sector of R.S. Pura in Jammu district, Indian police said.